Santa Anita Horse Deaths Trigger Congressional, DA Probes

ARCADIA, CA —One day after the owners of Santa Anita Park announced broad reforms over race day tactics, the Los Angeles District Attorney and a local congresswoman have called for investigations into the park's high number of equine deaths. Rep. Judy Chu of Pasadena called for a congressional committee to investigate the treatment of racehorses at race tracks throughout the country.

Since Dec. 26, 2018, 22 horses have suffered traumatic injuries while racing or training at Santa Anita and have been euthanized at the Arcadia racetrack.

"I am outraged by the deaths at Santa Anita racetrack," Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, said in a statement. "Animals deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion, and the use of race-day medication like Lasix must stop. The U.S. is an outlier when it comes to the practice of injecting horses with this drug on race day, and we need answers on the impact of this practice at Santa Anita and throughout the country.

"I am calling on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to investigate and hold a hearing on the treatment of horses at Santa Anita and throughout our country, and to examine legislation like the Horseracing Integrity Act that would improve safety for racehorses," Chu said. "I will work with my colleagues to ensure that all animals are treated humanely and to get to the bottom of this crisis. Until we know the horses are safe, the Santa Anita racetrack should be closed."

Santa Anita Park has come under fire from animal rights activists with demonstrators from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesting Thursday outside Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey's downtown Los Angeles office. They demanded a criminal investigation into the trainers whose horses have died since late December. Similarly, the Pasadena Humane Society notified the Arcadia Police Department, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"At this time, the District Attorney's Office has assigned investigators to work with the California Horse Racing Board," Greg Risling of the District Attorney's Office told City News Service.

Santa Anita had indefinitely suspended racing since the main dirt track was closed March 5 for further testing, with 3-year-old filly Princess Lili B becoming the latest casualty Thursday when she broke both of her front legs during a morning workout on the main track.

Belinda Stronach -- chair and president of the company that owns Santa Anita Park -- announced in an "open letter about the future of thoroughbred racing in California" that it would take the "unprecedented step of declaring a zero tolerance for race day medication" at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields, a racetrack in Berkeley also owned by The Stronach Group.

Responding to Chu's statement, Santa Anita Park's director of publicity, Mike Willman, noted that "medication issues were dealt with very comprehensively in the form of an open letter from our chairman and president."

"At this time, we will not be elaborating on this statement but are hopeful Congresswoman Chu will take these groundbreaking protocols into account as she reviews this entire situation," Willman stated.

On Thursday, Kathy Guillermo, the senior vice president with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, offered a response toward Santa Anita and the Stronach Group's new plan of action, saying:

"PETA thanks Santa Anita for standing up to all the trainers, veterinarians, and owners who have used any means—from the whip to the hypodermic syringe—to force injured or unfit horses to run. This is a watershed moment for racing, and PETA urges every track to recognize that the future is now and to follow suit. This groundbreaking plan, which PETA has pushed for, will not bring back the 22 horses who have died recently, but it will prevent the deaths of many more and will set a new standard for racing that means less suffering for Thoroughbreds at this track. Racing must go the way of the animal circus, but this will eliminate some of the misery on its way out. PETA will be protesting at the office of the district attorney today, and we will urge her to order a criminal investigation into the trainers whose horses died in the last three months."

According to Bloodhorse.com, a new federal bill is being presented to create a national oversight into the medication use in horse racing.

The so-called "Horseracing Integrity Act" introduced by representatives of New York and Kentucky, will "create a uniform national standard for drug testing in racehorses that would be overseen by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency," Bloodhorse.com reports.

Known as H.R. 1754, the bill is backed by the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity, a group of 18 members from racetracks and racing organizations around the nation.

"This is a horse-first bill. This bill will help ensure a safer environment for horses and riders at all tracks," said Shawn Smeallie, executive director of CHRI. "Representatives Paul Tonko and Andy Barr, along with their respective staff members, have worked tirelessly on this legislation. Thanks to their efforts, this initiative has gained the support of key stakeholders across the industry and continues to gain momentum. We look forward to working with other racing industry organizations to ensure productive legislative activity this year."

For more about this initiative, read on at Bloodhorse.com.

Read more:

22nd Horse Dies, Santa Anita Bans Whips, Drugs In Bold Reform

City News Service contributed to this report.